NCERT books in madrassas a good initiative: Upendra Kushwaha

Union minister Upendra Kushwaha today termed the decision of the Uttar Pradesh government to introduce NCERT books in madrassas a "good initiative" and said the books were good and affordable.
The minister of state for human resource development said the Centre had provided an option to all schools, whether private or government, to adopt the National Council Of Educational Research And Training (NCERT) books which were good and affordable.
"If the UP government has taken a decision keeping this in view, then it is definitely a good initiative," he told reporters on the sidelines of an event here which marked the opening ceremony of cultural festival 'Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat 2017' by Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS).

Asked about the criticism from some quarters that the government's intention was to "saffronise" the madrassas, he said it was "not proper (for him) to give any political" comment at the event.
The Uttar Pradesh government had yesterday announced its decision to introduce NCERT books in madrassas in the state, apart from making mathematics and science compulsory at the intermediate level in Islamic schools.
The steps were intended to make madrassa students more competitive by providing them contemporary and quality education, according to Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma.

Replying to a query about the Jaipur Municipal Corporation (JMC) beginning the practice of playing the national anthem at the start of day and the national song in the evening at its headquarters, he said, "The states have their own rights and they can take their own decisions."

Addressing the event, the minister said a day in India would come when a person in Kanyakumari would feel pain if any person in Kashmir was hurt. "Only then can we achieve Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat," he added.
He said Kendriya Vidalaya students, who had enthralled the audience with their performance at the event, were full of talent and capable of taking India to new heights.
He said it was wonderful to see students of one state speaking languages of different states. "But we await a time when people of one state will also feel the pain of other state. The new generation will bring this change in our society," he said.

KVS Commissioner Santosh Kumar Mall said 1,250 students from 25 KVS regions spread across the country were participating in the event along with their 125 escort teachers.
The unique feature of the fest was that students from one state represented the cultural diversity of another state, he said.
The three-day programme is open for the public.